To Read or Not To Read

Anna-Marie McLemore stuns once again with a magical realism story about self-discovery and self-love in the face of past trauma and fighting new battles. Lakelore follows two trans nonbinary brown neurodivergent teens as they both navigate a relationship with themselves and each other. One of McLemore's best yet, Lakelore is a must read for everyone, everywhere.  Anna-Marie McLemore was born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and taught by their family to hear la Llorna in the Santa Ana winds. They are the author of The Weight of Feathers , a finalist for the 2106 William C. Morris Debut Award; 2017 Stonewall Honor Book When the Moon Was Ours , which was longlisted for the National Book Award in Young People's Literature and was the winner of the Otherwise Award (formerly the James Tiptree Jr. Award); Wild Beauty ; Blanca & Roja; Dark and Deepest Red ; and The Mirror Season , which was also longlisted for the National Book Award in Young People's literature. ...

A magical retelling of a favorite classic, The Weight of Feathers masterfully weaves a story of familial expectations with the desires of one's heart. By deviating from its source inspiration in exciting and thoughtful ways, McLemore develops a story about making your own choices, defining your own destiny, becoming who you were always meant to be. A stunning debut novel, The Weight of Feathers is a thought-provoking and lyrical read, one that will not leave you, even after the final page has closed. Anna-Marie McLemore is a queer, nonbinary, Latinx author who grew up hearing la Ilorona in the Santa Ana Winds. Their books include William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist  The Weight of Feathers ; Stonewall Honor Book  When the Moon Was Ours , which was longlisted for the National Book Award;  Wild Beauty , a  Kirkus, Booklist , and  School Library Journal  Best Book of 2017;  Blanca & Roja , a  New York Times Book Review  Editors' Choice;...

In their newest release, Anna-Marie McLemore tackles the question of what it truly means to be a survivor, of what it truly means to grapple with the truth, and what the term of identity fully encompasses. With their staple magical realism plus a fairytale retelling twist, The Mirror Season is their most unforgettable story yet. It is an absolute must-read for any fan of McLemore's and for any fan of contemporary young adult fiction. If you've been looking for a read that will haunt you and hold you, for a read that will break you and heal you, look no further than The Mirror Season .  Anna-Marie McLemore is a queer, nonbinary, Latinx author who grew up hearing la Ilorona in the Santa Ana Winds. Their books include William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist The Weight of Feathers ; Stonewall Honor Book When the Moon Was Ours , which was longlisted for the National Book Award; Wild Beauty , a Kirkus, Booklist , and School Library Journal  Best Book of 2017; Blanca & Roja , a...

Colors and actions have power in everyday life. Specific colors provoke specific responses, and intentional (even unintentional) actions all have consequences. Dancing in red shoes provokes a specific image, especially if you're familiar with the dark and twisted fairytale. Retellings, one of my favorite sub-genres of young adult fiction, keep getting darker and more twisted as the years go on -- quite possibly a reflection of the world we're growing to live in. Anna-Marie McLemore, in their fifth and most recent novel, Dark and Deepest Red , tackles agency, history, cultures, faith, and power by connecting the stories of two women who will give it all up, to save all those they love.  Anna-Marie McLemore is the author of fairy tales that are as queer, Latinx, and nonbinary as they are. Their books include  The Weight of Feathers , a 2016 William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist; 2017 Stonewall Honor Book  When the Moon Was Ours , which was also longlisted for the Na...

This is a story about so many things: family, truth, understanding. To extend on that, it's a story about how stories have the power to be damaging when they're built on a foundation of lies. It's a story about the ability of one person, and one family, to take back agency and control of their own story. It's a story about all kinds of love, across all times and spaces. It's a story about how land and people affect one another, and how they'll always be in opposition if they don't work together to tell the correct story. It's a story about women upholding a burden they didn't deserve, but did anyways. But most of all, Anna-Marie McLemore, with Wild Beauty , gave us a story that we can all learn and grow from.  Anna-Marie McLemore is the author of fairy tales that are as queer, Latinx, and nonbinary as they are. Their books include The Weight of Feathers , a 2016 William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist; 2017 Stonewall Honor Book When the Moon Was...